Authorities Shut Down Internet Access In Azad Kashmir
Pakistan has shut down internet access in Azad Kashmir as people protest India’s revocation of Article 370.
Data from Netblocks, an internet monitoring body, confirms that Pakistan has shut down internet access in Azad Kashmir. As of 7th September, PTCL networks have been shut in Kashmir while Kashmiris on this side of the Line of Control protest Indian action in occupied Kashmir.
According to a report by Netblocks, cellular disruptions have been observed in Kashmir at multiple times throughout August, with this being the longest disruption.
Confirmed: #Pakistan has shut down internet access in Azad #Kashmir as of Saturday amid widening protests against #Article370 revocation; cellular disruptions now also registered in #Punjab for #Ashura commemorations; incidents ongoing 📉📉
📰 https://t.co/Qq2v7tJvZ0 pic.twitter.com/xYXtxwVplz
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) September 10, 2019
According to the internet observer, the timings of the internet shutdowns are consistent with the dates of major protests in Azad Kashmir.
Disruptions were also observed on the 15th of August, Indian Independence Day, when the protests were charged.
Data show that #Pakistan's PTCL internet service was also disrupted in #AzadKashmir on 15 August 2019 between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. local time as protests against India's abrogation of #Article370 gathered pace⏱
📰 https://t.co/Qq2v7tJvZ0 pic.twitter.com/14jrDGZ31x
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) September 10, 2019
The internet shutdowns come in the wake of a curfew and total communication blackout in occupied Kashmir.
Urgent: Severe internet disruption registered in #Srinagar, #Kashmir with backbone access largely severed by India from 18:00 UTC; information blackout poses immediate risk to safety and rights of individuals; incident ongoing #KeepItOn
📰 https://t.co/ENx1iLc4nQ pic.twitter.com/jv0KMbp3CM— NetBlocks (@netblocks) August 4, 2019
The situation in Azad Kashmir has recently gotten intense as protesters tried to march towards the Line of Control to protest Indian action on the other side.
Thousands of Kashmiris from Azad Kashmir side have gathered near the Line of Control (LoC) to protest the scrapping of #Article370 by the Indian govt pic.twitter.com/ZZ1RGqwdtq
— Murtaza Ali Shah (@MurtazaViews) September 9, 2019
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